Asian cat

The Asian is a medium-sized shorthaired cat that carries the same build and character as the Burmese, only in a far wider selection of coat colours and patterns. Bred in the United Kingdom, it is frequently regarded as a group of related varieties rather than a single coat type. Whatever the colour, each cat in the group has the same compact, muscular frame and the same craving for human company.

Weight normally comes in between 4 and 6.5 kilograms, the males heavier than the females. The coat is short, fine, and lies close to the skin, which keeps grooming light. Eyes are usually somewhere between yellow and gold, the exact tone depending on the coat.

Here is a cat that stays close to its owners. It will follow a person from room to room and keep itself involved in whatever the household is up to. Bright and sociable, it is fond of a chat, though its voice is gentler than the Siamese while still getting a fair airing. A home hoping for a quiet, independent pet may find the Asian looking for rather more attention than that.

Who it suits

The Asian suits an owner or family who are at home for much of the day and want a cat that joins in with things. It gets on grand with children who handle cats gently, and it usually takes to other cats and to cat-friendly dogs. It is a poor match for anyone away from the house for long hours at a stretch, as it hates being left on its own for any length of time.

The Asian group dates to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. It sprang from a cross between a lilac Burmese and a chinchilla coated cat of Persian type. The kittens kept Burmese conformation while showing new coat colours, and breeders saw the value in fixing those traits.

The breeding programme is tied to the British breeder Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg, who set about establishing the variety and its related coats during this time. The shaded coats from that first cross were developed into the Burmilla, and the wider effort brought about a family of Burmese-type cats in further colours and patterns.

In the years that followed, UK cat registries recognised the Asian as a group taking in several coat varieties, self (solid), tortie, smoke, and tabby forms among them, alongside the shaded Burmilla. Burmese conformation runs through the lot, and that keeps the group consistent in body type for all the variety in the coats.

The Asian is still a good deal more common in the United Kingdom than anywhere else. A fairly small number of committed breeders work with it, so tracking one down outside its home country is not easy.

The Asian shares the Burmese body: medium in size, heavier than its length would lead you to expect, and muscular beneath a sleek coat. The chest is rounded, the back straight, and the legs slender against the body. The head is a rounded wedge, with good width between the ears, full cheeks, and a firm chin.

Large eyes, set well apart, give the face an alert and open cast. Their colour runs from yellow through to gold, the exact shade bound up with the coat. The tail is of medium length and narrows to a rounded tip.

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies flat to the body, its shine coming from the fine texture rather than any length. The group takes in a broad palette. Self varieties appear in solid colours such as black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and caramel. Tortie, smoke, and tabby patterns turn up across those same base colours. The shaded coat that began the whole programme is recognised on its own as the Burmilla. For all the variety, every coat keeps the same close, low-maintenance texture.

The Asian is an outgoing, people-minded cat. It seeks out its household and heads for wherever the activity is, settling on a lap, over a shoulder, or beside whoever happens to be working. It bonds closely with its family and makes that attachment obvious.

With strangers the Asian is generally confident rather than shy, and it is more inclined to greet a caller than to slip away. It is sociable with other cats and often takes to cat-friendly dogs, which makes it well suited to a house with several pets. With children it stays patient so long as it is handled gently.

The breed is clever and keeps a keen interest in what is around it, learning routines quickly and inventing games of its own. It is talkative and will keep up a running commentary with its owner, though the voice is softer and less shrill than a Siamese. Long spells alone are not the Asian's strong point, and it can grow unhappy if it is regularly left by itself all day.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat once a week to take out loose hair and keep the shine
• Check the ears weekly and clean them gently if they need it
• Trim the claws every few weeks
• Bring in regular tooth brushing to look after dental health

Exercise

• Run two or more active play sessions a day with wand or chase toys
• Put out puzzle feeders and rotate the toys to keep the mind busy
• Add vertical space such as a cat tree or shelves to climb
• Use interactive play to work off the breed's natural energy

Environment

The Asian is happiest in a home where someone is about for much of the day. It settles into indoor living well once it has enough to occupy it and some height to climb. Being so sociable, it can take company from a second cat while the household is out, though that is no full replacement for time with people.

As an obligate carnivore, the Asian needs a diet built around animal protein. A complete commercial cat food that meets recognised nutritional standards will see to its needs at every life stage. Wet and dry foods both suit, and many owners feed a mix so the cat gets moisture from the wet food along with the convenience of dry. Fresh water should always be to hand.

How much to feed depends on age, weight, and activity. The figures below are general starting points; adjust them to body condition and to a vet's advice.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories so weight does not build up. A cat on a complete, balanced food usually needs no supplements. Run any addition, such as joint support for an older cat, past a vet before starting it.

The Asian is a hardy breed, and most cats see out long, healthy lives. A typical lifespan is 12 to 18 years with good care. Because the breed shares ancestry with the Burmese, it can carry some of the same inherited tendencies, so a breeder who screens their cats is worth seeking out. Routine checkups, dental care, and keeping the weight in check all count towards a long life.

Preventive care

• Book annual vet checkups, and more often for senior cats
• Keep core vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Brush the teeth regularly and arrange dental cleanings as advised
• Weigh the cat now and again and adjust food to hold a healthy condition
• Ask the breeder about health screening of the parents

The Asian's intelligence and its focus on people make it one of the more trainable cat breeds. It learns its name and the household routines quickly, and with patience it will take on tricks, recall, and even harness walking. Training also gives the breed's energy and curiosity a useful outlet, which cuts down on the mischief. Keep sessions short, since cats lose interest faster than dogs do.

Basics

1. Start litter training by setting the kitten in a clean tray after meals and naps
2. Provide a scratching post and reward its use to protect the furniture
3. Teach the cat to come to its name, treating it the moment it responds
4. Build simple tricks such as sit or high-five in short daily sessions
5. Introduce a harness gradually indoors before any walking outdoors

Female Asians can reach sexual maturity from around five to nine months, though responsible breeders hold back until the queen is physically mature, usually past a year, before a first litter. Mating follows the queen's heat cycle. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days.

Litters usually number four to six kittens, with some variation. Newborns are blind and depend entirely on their mother for warmth and feeding. Their eyes open at around one to two weeks, weaning starts near four weeks, and it finishes around seven to eight weeks. As the Asian is so social, kittens do best with gentle handling and early exposure to household life, which lays the groundwork for the confident temperament the breed is known for. Kittens normally go to new homes from about twelve to thirteen weeks, once their first vaccinations are done. Breeders should screen the parents for the inherited conditions seen in the Burmese line before mating.

Registering an Asian cat in Ireland

An ISPCA branch or a vet scanning a found Asian cat gets exactly as far as her record allows. Give the scan somewhere to land: a free profile with your name, your number, and her photo. Register your cat once and it holds for good.

The fifteen digits on your Asian cat's vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.